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J. W. FROST & S. D. LAKE.- AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

No. 350,426. Patented pct. 5, 1886.

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J. W. FROST & S. D. LAKE. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

No. 350,426. Patented Oct. 5, 1886.

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J. W. FROST & S. D. LAKE. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

No. 350,426. Patented Oct. 5', 1886.

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J. W. FROST & S. D. LAKE. AUTOMATIG ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

N. PETERS. Phohrlilhographcr. Waahlnglun, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JOSEPH \V. FROST AND STEPHEN D. LAKE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC FIRE-ALARM SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,426, dated October 5, 1886.

Application filed December 12, 1885. Serial No.185g174. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J OSEPH W. FRosT and STEPHEN D. LAKE, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Electrical Fire-Alarm Systems,which improvement is fully set forth in the follow ing specification, and shown in the acco1npanying drawings.

Our invention relates to automatic electric fire-alarm systems; and the object of-the in.- vention is to arrange certain improved apparatus in any given house or building in such a manner that an accidentalfire or unusual heat occurring at any time in any room or apartment thereof will be quickly announced by the ringing of alarm-gongs or displaying of signals, or both, within the building, at the central office, or at other points at which such alarm apparatus may be placed for the pur pose.

The object of our invention is also to an range the wires and other devices in such manner that the particular story, fiat, or sec tion of the building at which such fire may occur-will be duly announced to the observer by signals or otherwise.

The object of our inventiouis also to furnish a means for testing the wires, gongs, and other devices of either story or section of the building separately at any time without ringing the alarm bells at the central office, firedepartment offices, or other points from the building; and the further object of the invention is to furnish means to provide against false alarms being sounded, which might oth- I .erwise be unintentionally caused by the occutem applied to each story in a simple manner,

for the purpose of illustrating the application of the same; Fig. 2, Sheet 2, a front elevation of an annunciator, substantially of common kind, used in connection with our fire-alarm system, the device being used, in addition to giving an alarm, to designate the story or section of the building at which the fire may be located, the glass front of the case being broken away to uncover the apparatus within; Fig. 3, a view showing the interior of the box containing the devices for testing the circuitwires and other apparatus of each story or section of the building independently, the

door of said box being thrown open; Fig. 4, Sheet 3, a view of said'box, seen as indicated by arrow in Fig. 3, the box being horizontally sectioned, as upon the dotted line a: in said lat ter figure, one of the push-buttons or testing devices being mostly broken away to uncover the wire-connection and other parts, thefigure being drawn to more fully show the operation of right hand being substantially that in common 7 use in signal-b0 xes to strike or sound numbers nponjhe alarm-bell at the central office by the frequent making and breaking of the circuit, and the one at the left being a novel device for regulating the giving of alarms, so that false alarms shall be avoided, parts being shown in two positions by full and dotted lines; Fig. 9, Sheet 1, an enlarged view of parts shownin Fig. 4, viewed in the same direction in which said latter figure is seen, being drawn to better show the parts represented; Fig. 10, an enlarged view, it being an elevation of one of the electro-mag'nets and attached parts occupying the annunciatorbox, drawn to show the manner in which the plate or card bearing the number of the story is caused to turn and face the operator, parts being shown in two positions of adjustment; Fig. 11, a view of the same, seen as indicated by arrow in Fig. 10, drawn to further show the manner in which the number is exposed to view; Fig. 12, Sheet 4, a rear elevation of the annunciator,drawn to a smaller scale, showing more fullythewireconnections of the separate electro-magnets within the annunciator; Fig. 13, a top view of the same, the bell-stand and other parts being omitted, drawn tofurther show the wire-connections; and Fig. 14, a view of a portion of the front side of the signal-box, drawn to show the indicator or pointer which indicates the position of the alarnrregulating disk, so that its relation with the pendulum of the alarm clockwork may at any time be seen.

In this fire-alarm system we arrange thermostats, preferably those shown in application serial number 173,971, in all of the rooms and apartments of the buildings or blocks supplied with said system, locating said thermostats, if there be a choice, at such parts of the various rooms as there may be thought to be the most danger of fire, placing said thermostats upon the ceiling or side walls in greater or less numbers, according to the requirements of the case or size of each room. These thermostats in their normal state are open and form no part of the electrical conductors. Wires from the poles of a local battery are led to pass tangentially by each thermostat, and are connected with each, so that when closed by the action of heat parts of said thermostats become a portion of the conductor, shortcircuiting the current and completing the connection between the poles of the battery. Each story or other section of the building, as may be desired, is provided with acomplete system of conductors and thermostats, with alarm gongs, signals, and other devices,if thought necessary, each of which systems forms a secondary system to that of the whole. The wires of each secondary system connect with the main wire leading from the battery, so that each of these systems will operate in giving fire-alarms, and each system may be tested independently of the rest. To the primary system belongs a signal-box, from which wires lead to various alarm-bells out of the building-as, for instance, one located at the Central office, which may be located at a distance-one or more connected with gongs located at various fire-department buildings or other places, as the case may be. The thermostats are each joined to both of the wires leading from the respective poles of the battery, so that a connection may be made between said wires through any one of said thermostats when a cause exists. The wires of each secondary system are separated and the circuits broken at the respective pushbuttons, and when either one of said pushbuttons is pressed to close the circuit the wires and other devices forming said system are subjected to a test.

For the purpose of testing the wires, alarmbells, &c., belonging to either of the secondary systemsindependently of the rest of the primary system, to see at any time if all of the apparatus thereof is in working order, we have wires leading from each secondary system brought together at some convenient lo cation, joining each to aseparate circuit-closing device of some suitable kind, the same being preferably an ordinary push button. By closing the respective circuits at these points at any time a circuit will be formed, including within it the apparatus of the entire secondary system to which the push-button or circuit-closer belongs, the alarm-gongs out of the building being entirely out out, by means hereinafter described, so that no alarm will be given outside the building while lllttkingthese tests. By this means a silent test (as regards the fire-department) may be had at wires, no alarms being sounded, save the strikanytime of any of the secondary systems of ing of the bells or gongs within the building belonging to the system being tested, and the annunciator is connected with each of the sec ondary systems, so that when a test is made of either system the number of said system will be presented to view in said annunciator. If the wires of the system are not in order, the gongs forming part of the system will not sound when a test is made, and the number will be displayed in the annunciator. The alarmgongs within the building belonging to any or all of the secondary systems may be so connected as to be also thrown out of circuit when the tests are being made, should it be advisable at any time not to have them sound. The push-buttons fortesting are preferably arranged side by side in a closed box, the cover of which may be secured by a lock and key to prevent said buttons being tampered wilh, said test-box, as a matter of convenience,bei ng placed j ust below or near the annu nciator. To cut out the signal-box and wires leading to the alarnrbells at the central office and other points above mentioned, so that no alarm shall be given on account of the tests being made, we connect branch wires to the battery-wires on eitherside of the signal-box, bringing the ends of said branch wires near each other within the test-box, and connect them, respectively,with other parts in the box, so that they will be joined or separated by the opening and closing of the door of said testbox. By means of these devices within the test-box, operated by the opening and closing of the door of said test-box, the alarms outside of the building are automatically out out of the local circuit whenever the tests are made. On account of this arrangement of parts no false alarms can, under any circumstances, be sounded from making the tests, for the pushbuttons or circuit-closers cannot be operated until the door of the testbox is thrown open, which automatically closes the circuitthrongh the branch wires above mentioned.

When this system of. fire-alarms is put into a building-such as, for instance, a manufacturing establishment-it might sometimes occur that by the moving or jarring of machinery,or for various unforeseen causes,an alarm might be sounded when there was no accidental fire or heat to act upon thethermostats,or when no cause existed forsaid alarm of the nature of those guarded against; also, the operatives or other persons in and about a building supplied with this system might i'rom accident or design ring an alarm, which would lead to unnecessary loss and confusion, besides causing a lack of confidence in the system from such false alarm being given. To prevent this we introduce into the system an alarmregulating device which prevents the instantaneous sounding of an alarm from any cause that is to say, on account of this regulator an alarm cannot be sounded until after the cause of such alarm has existed continuously for a period of time of certain length, previously arranged. The operation of this-alarm-regulator is such that when a connection is made at any point between the poles of the battery from any cause, either from accident, design, or the starting of a fire, causing a thermostat to act, an alarm will not be instantaneously sounded thereby, but instead certain machinery will be set in motion,which, after thclapsc of a quartcr-mimite, half-minute, or other period of time, as may have been previously provided for, will cause such alarm to be sounded.

Referring more particularly to the parts of the invention, A, Fig. 1, are the vertical walls of a building, and B the floors thereof.

a are'thermostats located anywhere thought necessary upon the walls or ceilings of the various rooms of the building, and c and 0 wires of the system leading from a local battery, 0.

D is the annunciator, preferably located in a front hall, or near a window, that it may be seen, from the street by persons outside the building, should a tire. occur therein in the night.

F is a test-box containing a number of circuit-closers, a, there being one for each story or section of the building supplied with an independent secondary system of alarm apparatus.

A is a signal box, preferably located near the annunciator,which contains our improved alarm-regulating device, the latter being con nected with and forming a part of the firealarm system herein described. From the signal-box two wires, 26", run to the district office L in the usual way.

At H, Fig. 8, is shown the ordinary clockwork in the signal-box, having the usual breakwheel, K, and circuit-breaker z, for determining the strokes upon the bell at the central office, there being also attached to the clockwork the usual escapement-pendulum,N.

At 0 is shown another system of clock-work provided with a disk,S,and escapement-pendulum E, which latter clock-work formsaregulator for the operations of the clock-work shown at H.

T is a magnet which operates a detent, I), for the pendulum F.

The thermostat shown is composed of an annular wooden holder, 12, holding an annular metallic frame, 7t, which latter may form at any time a part of the circuit.. 1" is a bar or spring of conducting metal secured at one end to said frame, being separated from the latter by an insulator, m.

Z is a circular disk of hard rubber, being sensitive to the heat, the same being sprung into-the frame is, taking a convexoconcave form from the strain thereon, said disk havrespective posts 2! of the thermostat, the wire r being connected with the bar 1', and the wire 8 being connected with the frame It. From this it will be understood that if the disk Z be expanded from the action of heat it will bend farther away from the bar or spring i,- allowing thefree end of the latter to touch the inetallicftame 7t" and close the circuit at that point, and the signal-box, annunciator,

gongs, &c., in the building belonging to the system being within the circuit will be caused to act.

As above stated, the secondary systems of 0 the various stories or sections of the building may at any time be tested by the devices provided for the purpose; but if when making these tests no precaution be taken to prevent, regular firealarms will be sounded on account thereof. To avoid these alarms we short-cut the circuits at the test-box F, leaving out the signal-box and all wires leading therefrom to the alarm-gongs at the central oflice, fire-department buildings, &c., by some means,for instance, as follows:

I) is a simple frame placed in any convenient place within the testbox, so as to hold a pushpin or movable part, (Z, in position to have the door G press it back when closed, as shown in Figs. 4 and 9. This push pin rests within a holder, 7, secured rigidly within the frame 12, around which pin and within the holder is coiled a spiral spring, 0, pressing against a collar, 1-, of the pin, which spring tends to urge the pin in a direction toward the door,

The inner end ofsaid holder is closed, save as to a central orifice in which the pin d rests, the latter reaching back to some distance beyond the end of the holder. To theinner end of the pin a branch wire, '11, is rigidly secured, as with solder, said wire leading from the main battery-wire at a point, a, on said battery-wire near the signal-box, and on the opposite side thereof from the battery, and between said signal-box and the other devices of the system on the line or battery wire, as the thermostats, gongs, &c. r

. g is an insulating block or stud held to the inner surface of the fratneb by simple means, at the free end of which is secured a metallic plate, It, to which plate is secured another branch wire, a, connected with said main battery-wire at a point, 1/, between the signalbox and the battery. The signal-box being between the points o and a, (where the wires join,) when the circuit is closed in the test-box the signal-box, with the connected outlying wires, will be left out. When the door of the test-box is opened for the purpose of making the tests above mentioned, the spring will force the push-pin outward suiiiciently to bring the head 8 of said pin against the wine a and close the circuit between the wire a and 11, leaving out the signal-box A,with the outly' ing wires. This short-circuiting of the battery-wirc will continue all the while the door is open, making the test-buttons accessible, so that in no case can any of the alarm-gongs, excepting those within the building and belonging to the system, be rung from the making of thetests.

From this description of the connection of the puslrbuttons with the respective secondary systems and the operation of the pushpin (1 it will be understood that any of said systems may be at any time tested without other act or operation than simply opening the door and pressing the push-button of the system to be tested.

XVithin the annunciator-box D, Sheets 1 and 2,back oi'the glass front thereof, there are placed as many electro-magncts B as there are stories or sections in the building furnished with inde pendent secondary systems. To each magnet is added a disk or card, 00, upon which several cards, respectively, are written the numbers of the stories or sections supplied with the independent secondary systems. These cards or disks are each secured to a simple frame, d fitted to turn upon a vertical rigid post, 0", so that the number upon the card may be presented to or withdrawn from view, as the case may be. A slender spiral spring, a", secured to said frame and coiled upon the post, tends to turn said frame so as to cause the card to face the observer when standing in front of the ann'unciator. A horizontally-projecting arm, 11 is made rigid with the frame (1", and when said frame is turned to withdraw the number from view said arm is engaged by a catch, 2*, formed at the extremity of an armature, I)". \Vhen the magnet is rendered active by closing the circuit, the armature will be drawn down, releasingthe arm 9 on account of which the spring at will quickly turn the frame (1 upon its post and cause the number on the card to be presented to view, as stated.

The wires of each secondary system are re spcetively connected with the different magnets of the annunciator, as shown at e c e 0, so that when the circuit ofany system is closed, either for making a test or from the action of a thermostat, the corresponding number will be displayed, as stated, and the gong of the annunciat-or struck, the latter being in every circuit.

The annunciator shown, or any other of the dillerentstylcs ofannu nciators in use with electrical systems, may be used in our automatic firealarm system, said annunciator here shown not being held to be new or novel, and the same forming no part of our present inven tion.

Referring to the clock-work O in Fig. 8, the disk S is secured rigidly to the shalt g, to

which shaft also the ordinary actuating-spring for the gearing is secured, the other end of the spring being connected with the gear R, all in in the usual manner. The gear R is fitted to turn freely upontheshaftg',said gearbeingprovided with the ordinary pawl, 70, and pressurespring 2', while the opposing inner face of the disk S is provided with ratchet'teeth Z, to act with the pawl From this it will be understood that by turning said disk, with its shaft, around in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow the spring will be wound or strained, and when left to itself will tend to turn the gear R, by means of the pawl and ratchet, in the usual manner. The disk S is circular and has one or more notches, formed in its periphery, and the gearing O is relatively so placed that said disk occupies the vertical plane in which the pendulum N swings, the axis of said disk being about on a level with the lower end of said pendulum. At its lower end, at t, the

pendulum is turned laterally toward the disk, and the latter is so placed that said pendulum can vibrate only when a notch, p, is opposite the part 11 thereof. At all other times the unbroken circular periphery of the disk crowds the pendulum and prevents said vibrating of the same. Thus the disk forms a stop for the pendulum and stays the motion thereof, and the motion of the connected gearing and breakwheel K. The pendulum 1*] is at times prevented from vibrating by means of a stop, I), which latter is held to bear against said pendulum, by means of a slender spring and thread, (1', said thread being wound upon a pin, f, in the usual manner,to regulate the tension upon the thread and spring. The electromagnet T is held in position to attract the stop 0, like an armature, which latter, when thus drawn to the magnet, releases the pendulum and allows it to vibrate and start the clockwork, causing the disk S to present, after a time, a notch, 12, to the pendulum N, as stated. The pendulunrweight his adj ustable upon the pendulunrrod, so that the disk S maybe caused to turn more or less rapidly, as may be desired. WVhile running, the clock-work carries the disk slowly around, so that it may be ten, twenty, or thirty seconds, or other period of time, as may be thought best, after-said. clockwork is started, before a notch is presented to the pendulum to allow the break-wheel of the signal-box to sound an alarm at the central office.

The operation of the parts is substantially as follows: \Vhen the circuit is closed at any one of the thermostats, or by other means, the magnet T becomes active and starts the clock-work shown at O, the movement of which in course of time allows the clock work at H to move and sound an alarm at the central o'liicc, all as stated.

It will be seen that on account of the disk S and the action generally of the clock-work O the closing of the circuit, in order to sound an alarm, must be continuous during a period sufficiently long to bring the notch 19 around to the pendulum. A brief closing of the circuit will allow the stop S to turn but a short distance, on account of which the notch will not be presented and no alarm will be sounded. In case the circuit is closed from the action of heat upon a thermostat, it will, of necessity, remain closed sufficiently long to bring the notch 12 to the pendulum. The clock-work at O can only move while the circuit is closed, it being instantly stopped by the action of the spring d in drawing the detent 1) against the penduy the clockwork.

lum, when the magnet is rendered inactive from the circuit being broken. To arrest the motion of the disk or stop S at the point at which the notch shall stand opposite the pendulum, we secure a stop-pin, a, to said disk, in position to encounter a rigid stud, c. projecting from some fixed part of the device. The disk being held in this position allows the break-wheel K to turn several times around, repeating the alarm at the central office as many times as maybe desired. After an alarm has been sounded the attendant turns the disk S back to its normal positon, in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow, to carry the notch 17 around away from the pendulum and bring the unbroken portion of the periphery of the stop S against the pendulum, as stated, so that the apparatus shall be in position to give another alarm or operate again. To turn the disk backward, a simple key may be placed upon the squared end f of the shaft 9 in the usual manner. When the disk S is inits normal position,the notch p is at a distance from the pendulum N as, for instance, it may be diametrically opposite said pendulumso that a period of time say twenty secondsshall elapse before it can be brought around to the pendulum to allow an alarm to be given; but if, from various causes, a number of brief closings of the circuit shall be effected, each allowing the clockwork to move a short distance, altogether carrying the notch around to a point near the pendulum, another brief closing of the circuit from accident might be sufficient to carry the notch to the .)endulum,aiul so sound an alarm when there was no fire. To guard against this we attach an indicator to the shaftcarrying the disk, by means of which the position of the notch with reference to the pendulum may at anytime beknowu. The indicator 9", Fig. 14, is placed so as to point to the notch, and turns upon the outside of the case or box inclosing By observing the indicator the attendant is enabled to see at any time the exact position of the notch,and tobring it back to its normal position with the key, if it has been moved therefrom from any cause.

t may be desirable to cut the magnet '1 out of the circuit for the purpose of avoiding the resistance it offers to the current after the disk S has been brought to the position shown in Fig. '8, andthe action of the clock-work and v said magnet is no longer required. To allow this we make use of a spring-terminal, If, having one end attached to circuit-wire e, and

spring, from its own elasticity,will return to the loop i and again close the connection between the wiresc and k If a circuit be at any time closed by theaction of a thermostatas, for instance, the one at F, Fig. 1.the current will flow as follows: from battery 0 along wire 0, through signalbox A, wires a to and from the central office through wires 0, continued from signal box to thermostat F, thence back along wire '0', touching the other side of said thermostat, to annunciator D, and along wire 0, continued to the other pole of the battery. The circuit thus closed serves to give the alarm at the central office by sounding upon the bell 'thereat the number of the building at which the danger exists, and to display at the annunciator within the building the numeral or figure indicating the particular section or part of the building in which the thermostat has closed the circuit, besides striking the bell I at the annunciator and giving such other signals addressed to the ear or eye as may have been previously made part of the system of the section, or connected therewith. I

If it be wished to at any time test any of the sec0ndary systems-as,for instance,the one occupying section No. 3-the circuit including said system will be closed at push-button No.

3, when the flow will be as follows: from battery along branch wire a, through test-box F, along branch 1; to main wire 0, along the latter to the farthest thermostat F of the section 3, thence along the wire a, continued to the said testing push-button, thence back along the parallel wire 0 to the thermostat F, continuing along said wire 0 to the annunciator D, and to the other pole ofthe battery along the .wire 0 continued thereto. -All the other circuits may be similarly traced.

WVhat we claim as our invention is 1. In an electric alarm system, the co1nbination of the circuit-wires u o, the plate h, attached to one of said wires, the insulated block 9, to which said plate is secured, the frame I),

which supports said block, the push-pin d, which makes electrical connection between the other wire and said plate, the spring 0,which moves said push-pin to effect such connection,

and the inclosure F, having a cover, G, the

opening of which leaves said spring free to act as stated.

2. In an electric alarm system, an inelosure, F, containing wires a 12, respectively connected with a battery-wire, c, at points on opposite sides of the signal-box of said system, testbuttons 12, connected,respectively,with different sections or parts of said system by currentconductors, and a push-pin or movable holder, 1

TOO

d, for the wirelv, and a cover for said inclosure, in combination with a holder for said wire a and generating-battery, said wires to n being connected or disconnected by the holder (6, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the battery and current wires of an automatic electric alarm sys-' tem, a signal-sending device having a system of clocleworkJI,provided with abreak-wheel, K, and. cooperating circuit-breaker z, and a second. system of clockwork, 0, provided with a moving part, S, constituting adetent for the escapement N of said clock-work H, a detent for the escapement of said clock-work O, and magnet to move said last'named detent, substantially as described and shown.

41-. In combination with the battery and current wires of an automatic electric alarm system, a signal-sending device having a system of clock-work, H, provided with a break' wheel, K, and cooperating eircuitbreaker z, and a second system of clock-work, 0, pro vidcd with a turning disk, S, constituting a detent for the escapement of said clockwork H, said disk having a peripheral notch, 12,

serving to release said escapement as the disk the latter being formed with a spring-termt.

nal, 7f, arranged to be struck by said pin a, and moved for opening the circuit which includes magnet T, substanliall y as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In combination with the battery and circuit wires of an electric alarm system, a device for sending signals having a system of clock-work, H, provided with break -wheel and co-operating circuit-breaker, and a second system of clock-work, 0, provided with a disk, S, constituting a detent forthe escapement of said clock-work H, said disk having a peripheral notch, p, serving to release said escapement as the said disk moves around, and. a stop, a, for the disk, serving to hold said notch 22 opposite said escapement, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In combination with the battery and circuit wires of an electric alarm system, a device for sending signals having a system of clock-work, H, provided with break-wheel and co-operating circuitbreaker, and a second system of clock-work, 0, provided with a disk, S, constituting a detent for the escapement of said clock-work H, said disk having a peripheral notch, 12, serving to release said escapement as the disk moves around, and an indicator, for the disk, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In combination with the battery and current wires of an electric alarm system, an inclosure, F, containing wires u 12, connected with one of the main battery-wires at diil'er ent points thereon, test-buttons a, connected,

respective] y, with different sections of said system, a push-pin, (Z, holding the wire 12, a holder for the wire a, a cover for said inclosurc serving by its movements to operate said pushpin to connect ordisconnect said wires u 'u, and line-wires n connected with said battery-wire between the points at which said wires a join said batterywire, substantially as de' scribed and shown.

J. \V. FROST. S. D. LAKE.

\Vitnesses:

ENOS B. XVHI'rMoRE, W. R. Haien'r. 

